Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

In the span of an afternoon,

Tang Wen’s name became known throughout Ganshan City.

Wu Hao stared at the portrait, completely dumbfounded.

He grabbed the Guard delivering the notice.

He confirmed again and again that his partner, the brother he’d hustled for money with, was indeed the Seventh Young Master, Tang Wen, in the portrait.

The messenger Guard left.

He held the portrait and gave himself a hard slap across the face.

His hand and face burned with a stinging pain. "So it’s not a dream."

"Mr. Wu, does this mean we can walk sideways from now on?"

"Walk sideways my ass! You think the other young masters in the gang are just for show?"

Wu Hao frowned, unclear if it was from the pain or worry.

As the portraits were posted all over the streets and alleys, discussions erupted among the people.

"This pretty boy can become a young master of the Black Water Gang?"

The speaker’s arms were thicker than the waists of the women from Baihua Tower.

He was bald and stood over two meters tall.

One didn’t need to guess to know they were from the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, the group that practiced Hard Skills.

They were obsessed with pursuing stronger physiques and greater strength.

The entire Martial Arts Hall was all about being iron-willed, pure men.

They had nothing but contempt for pretty boys.

Baihua Tower was even livelier:

"How have we never seen such a handsome man before?"

"I know! And he’s a young master of the Black Water Gang? He’s never even been to Baihua Tower!"

"If he came, this old gal would do it for free just to have a taste."

"I’d pay ten taels of silver!"

"Can I take this portrait?"

"Get away! You little hussy, what do you plan to do with it?"

"To practice my drawing, of course! You didn’t think I was going to... *use* it, did you?"

"Bah! Watch me tear that filthy mouth of yours!"

"..."

「Inner City.」

Huang Mansion:

"A mere Martial Artist can become a young master of the Black Water Gang!"

"He does have some Talent, though."

"Talent? Hah! What’s the use of Talent?"

Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, there wasn’t a single maidservant.

A Guard handed Tang Wen’s portrait inside.

A short while later,

a voice devoid of any emotion called out:

"Just follow the rules and issue the notice."

"Also, urge the five major gangs of the Outer City to send men for the night watch. The term this time is three months."

"Yes, my lord."

「Black Water Sect Headquarters.」

The excitement came and went quickly.

Before Tang Wen could even memorize the faces of the various high-ranking members,

they had already left.

They clearly didn’t take this "Seventh Young Master," a fledgling Martial Artist, seriously.

As for those bearing gifts, there wasn’t a single one.

After everyone left, the gang’s Council Hall returned to tranquility.

Tang Wen watched their departing backs and thought of a fitting phrase: ’Don’t bully a young man for being poor, don’t bully a middle-aged... Never mind.’

’It’s a bad omen.’

"Let’s go. Your carriage has been prepared."

Elder Li stood up from his seat.

"I get a carriage?"

"Of course! The dignified Seventh Young Master of the Black Water Gang, without even a decent carriage? If those brutes from the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall saw that, they’d think we were going bankrupt."

Only then did Tang Wen remember that he hadn’t asked about his compensation package.

He turned and began to discuss it with Elder Li.

As one of the near-top-tier powers in Ganshan City, the Black Water Gang’s

compensation for its "young masters" was not shabby.

Five vials of Extraordinary Magical Beast Blood Marrow per month.

Fifteen hundred catties of Extraordinary Magical Beast flesh per month.

Various Elixirs, from one to ten vials a month, depending on their rarity.

Ten thousand silver taels and one thousand gold taels.

Unlimited access to the gang’s various training chambers.

In addition, one Extraordinary Guard, and a personal escort team of ten.

Hearing the last part, his heart sank.

’Are they guards or spies?’

’It’s hard to say.’

’Refuse?’

’I have no reason to.’

"You little brat! Still not satisfied? Your benefits almost match mine."

Elder Li said with a half-joking scolding.

The Elders had toiled for half their lives and made immense contributions to the gang to achieve their current status.

Tang Wen became a Young Master and could immediately enjoy everything.

It was like a worker not only retiring thirty-five years early,

but also receiving a high-level executive’s pension.

How could it not make others envious?

"It’s not that I’m unsatisfied! It’s just that the surprise came so suddenly, it feels like I’m dreaming."

"Haha! Don’t overthink it. Focus on improving your strength and don’t slack off." Elder Li patted Tang Wen’s shoulder.

Elder Li’s words were meaningful.

Tang Wen understood that he had become a "Young Master" because of his potential.

The gang was now pouring a massive amount of resources into him.

’If I can become a Sixth or Fifth Grade expert, then nothing more needs to be said.’

’But if I can’t?’

’Will I meet a good end?’

’I’ll probably be squeezed dry by the gang until I die, right?’

’The Black Water Gang is a gang, not a charity.’

Footsteps approached from a distance.

The two of them stopped talking.

The newcomer was the Black Water Gang Leader—Shui Qianjun.

"Elder Li has told you everything, I assume?"

"Honored Master, he has told me everything." Tang Wen’s casual demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of utmost respect.

"Good! On the first of every month, I will personally teach you all. You can ask me any questions you have about Martial Arts."

’I want to ask right now, to what level must I cultivate my Breath Concealment Technique to never reveal a flaw in front of you?’

’It’s pretty urgent.’

Unfortunately, the Water Gang Leader couldn’t hear his thoughts.

Otherwise, he would have undoubtedly slapped him to death with a single palm strike.

"As for your Extraordinary Guard," Shui Qianjun said, "your first option is to choose one from within the gang. The second is to find someone from the Seven Kills Hall. The third is my Vice Commander of the Forbidden Guard."

Tang Wen’s mind raced. ’This isn’t about choosing an Extraordinary Guard, is it?’

’This is making me declare my allegiance!’

He fought the urge to turn and look at Elder Li.

But Elder Li had already fallen several paces behind them. They had clearly been walking out of the hall together, but somehow, he had dropped back.

"I will rely entirely on Honored Master’s arrangements!" he said without a hint of hesitation.

"Mm, then do you want my Forbidden Guard Commander, or the Vice Hall Master of the Seven Kills Hall?"

Tang Wen replied, "Honored Master, this disciple doesn’t usually leave the city. Your arrangements will be best."

"Then come with me to the Seven Kills Hall."

The Seven Kills Hall was in the Northwest corner of the Black Water Gang’s Main Altar.

The entrance was guarded.

It had a separate iron gate and was heavily fortified.

The moment they entered, the smell of sweat hit them in the face.

Inside the gate was a vast courtyard.

It was filled with Martial Artists wearing shorts and short shirts, or who were bare-chested.

Tang Wen feasted his eyes.

The training ground before him was divided into two sections: one for men, the other for women.

He only glanced at the men’s side.

As for the women’s side, never mind their looks, every single one of them had a smoking hot body.

’Hmm, their Constitution looks very strong.’

’They could surely withstand a stormy barrage of blows, right?’

The fact that the women at his home weren’t up to the task was Tang Wen’s biggest frustration at the moment.

"The Gang Leader is here!"

"The Seventh Young Master is here!"

The voices echoed throughout the hall.

A group of people hurried out from the Stone Tower.

Their auras were formidable, like those of ancient, ferocious beasts.

They had just finished training and sparring, and the killing intent they had stirred up still filled their eyes.

As their eyes met, Tang Wen had the illusion of being targeted by a wild animal.

But that was all. If he were a true Martial Artist, he would have been at least a little intimidated.

But he was already Extraordinary. To put it bluntly,

with his continuous explosive power, if given half a day, he could slaughter all hundred-plus Martial Artists here, inside and out.

’Seventh Young Master?’

Many had never heard this title.

’The gang has a new young master?’

’Hadn’t things settled down?’

’What does the Gang Leader mean by this?’

’Could he be dissatisfied with the Hall Master...’

The members of the Seven Kills Hall grew uneasy.

When it came to the gang’s succession, there was no such thing as a small matter.

The slightest misstep could lead to a bloodbath!

Everyone in the Seven Kills Hall, inside and out, looked at Tang Wen with eyes that unconsciously held scrutiny and vigilance.

They were the staunch supporters of the Third Young Mistress.

"Father."

The words were short and powerful.

Tang Wen saw a tall woman.

She wore shorts and a short shirt, revealing fair, slender arms and long legs.

Her thick, long, black braid wound from the back of her long, snow-white neck and rested on the towering slope of her chest.

The two looked at each other’s faces, both momentarily lost in a daze.

The DNA stirred.

’Is love at first sight just lust at first sight?’

Tang Wen warned himself inwardly: ’Even though I’m not getting enough to eat at home, I can’t be thinking about this stuff all the time when I’m out!’

Gang Leader: "You two should get acquainted."

"Tang Wen greets the Third Young Master."

"Shui Yun." The woman’s speech was concise and powerful.

Knowing that Tang Wen was here to choose an Extraordinary Guard,

the look in Shui Yun’s eyes softened slightly.

Using one of her people as his Extraordinary Guard meant this newly appointed Seventh Young Master was completely aligning with her.

He wouldn’t disrupt the existing order within the gang.

After careful consideration, Shui Yun said, "All the Extraordinary members in the hall are Vice Hall Masters, and each has their own duties. However, I am now a Veteran Extraordinary and no longer require a guard, so I can let Aunt Lian—"

"No." A cold voice rang out.

A figure suddenly appeared.

Like a weightless ghost, she materialized at the top of the second-floor staircase and floated down!

Her face was covered by a veil, and she was dressed entirely in black. Her movements stirred a fierce wind that outlined her astonishing curves.

Beneath the hem of her clothes, her jade-like feet were faintly visible.

’This figure... she’s top-tier in the ’auntie’ category.’